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OPINION

Thumbs up, thumbs down

Editorial Board
Published 6:20 p.m. ET Feb. 23, 2017

Matt Barbaccia, of Pittsford, will leave on a trans America bike trip to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's disease on February 27, 2017.(Photo: Katie Barbaccia)

Thumbs up: For the pedaling power of Matt Barbaccia. The Pittsford resident will ride a bicycle across the country to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder. His 4,000-mile 'Ride4Parkinson’s' trek begins next week in Jacksonville, Florida. All proceeds from Ride4Parkinson’s will be donated to Team Fox, a grassroots community fundraising program of The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Thumbs down: For earning a spot on the Southern Poverty Law Center's annual Hate Map. This year's map shows 917 active hate groups operating in the United States, including two newly listed organizations in the Rochester area: White New York and Deir Yassin Remembered. Needless to say, a hate map is not something our area wants to or should be associated with.

Thumbs up: For the 2017 inductees to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. Let’s hear it for this year’s class: Samuel Adler, composer and professor emeritus from Eastman School of Music; Joe Beard, jazz guitarist and vocalist; Gary Lewis, frontman for Gary Lewis & the Playboys; Uncle Roger McCall, a late-night WCMF-FM (96.5) DJ whose show featured local acts in the 1980s and 1990s; Greg Sullivan, longtime owner of music club Penny Arcade on Lake Avenue; and Lewis Soloff, jazz trumpeter and composer and a member of Blood Sweat & Tears. These local icons will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 30 at Kodak Hall in the Eastman Theatre.

Thumbs up: For the chance to learn more about community-supported agricultureprograms. The public can join a CSA and pay upfront for a portion of a local farm’s harvest. CSA farmers typically observe a national CSA Day on the last Friday in February. Several Rochester-area programs have CSA fairs planned including a CSA fair at the New York Wine & Culinary Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 25. and Rochester CSA Fair on April 1 at M/Body, 1048 University Ave. For more information about the Canandaigua CSA Fair go to www.nywcc.com or go to wildhillfarm.com for information on the Rochester CSA Fair.

Thumbs up: For using a dog census to tell the tale of the dogs in area towns. Area municipalities including Webster are holding dog censuses to have a headcount of dogs, ensure they are licensed and to ensure that rabies shots are up-to-date. Collecting this information is a good thing for communities and for Fido.

Thumbs up: For civil debate. Students throughout Monroe County have the chance to learn skills of civil discourse, according to the Monroe County School Boards Association. Many teachers add lessons in proper debate to the required course Participation in Government. Given the current trend of incivility in discussion across the nation, maybe these teens can teach adults a thing or two about civil debate. We hope.